Linus Torvalds on the state of Linux today and how AI figures in its future

Dec 5, 2023 ·

Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux kernel, has recently given an interview on the state of Linux today and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will figure into the operating system's future. Torvalds said he is confident in Linux’s stability and reliability, noting that it has come a long way since its early days and is now the most popular open source project in the world. He also noted that AI will be a major part of Linux’s future, citing the need for advanced machine learning algorithms that can efficiently process large amounts of data.

Torvalds discussed how AI could benefit Linux by making it more efficient and adaptive to changing environments. For example, he suggested that AI could be used to create virtual machines that would allow businesses to spin up new applications or computing resources in a matter of minutes. He also noted that AI could help automate many of the mundane tasks associated with computer system management, freeing up IT staff to focus on more important tasks.

When asked about challenges facing Linux, Torvalds highlighted security as one of the biggest. He spoke about the need to ensure Linux remains secure against malicious hackers and other cybercriminals. He mentioned that the Linux Security Module (LSM) is built into the kernel and provides users with extra access control capabilities. He also noted that the "seccomp" sandboxing feature helps prevent hackers from gaining unauthorized access to a system.

Overall, Torvalds believes that AI will play an important role in the future of Linux. By leveraging AI technologies, Linux could become more efficient and better able to adapt to changing environments. In addition, AI technologies could help improve security, as well as automate mundane tasks for IT staff. Finally, Torvalds sees a bright future ahead for Linux and expects the open source community to continue pushing it into new and exciting directions.